Photo Contest Grand-Prize Winners

Luke, Quincy, and Romy (4, 6, and 2 weeks, U.S.)

children of Sunny and Adam

"This picture was taken the morning after we arrived home with our youngest daughter, Romy. She had a big sister and big brother who were very anxious to meet her and welcome her to the family. To say that they were excited might be the understatement of the year! Romy was loved and prayed for long before she made her way to our family. She is loved by so many, but especially by her big brother and sister!" —SUNNY

PHOTOGRAPHER: SUNNY

Finalists

Kevin (15, China)

son of Kyle

"My son was born missing bones in his lower leg, and was left on the doorstep of a hospital. The name he was given was Zhao Pan, which means ‘hope for a better future.’ I tell people that I went to China to bring home a child with special needs, and I brought home an athlete instead. Kevin does everything—surfs, swims, runs 10Ks. This photo was taken this past summer, when he was attending a triathlon camp. I think the future looks great!" —KYLE

PHOTOGRAPHER: VAL REYNOLDS

Brian (1, U.S.)

son of Melissa and David

"We had photos taken when Brian turned one. Jennifer had all these teddy bears set up around him, and he just leaned over, picked one up, and hugged it. To me, this picture captures how playful, sweet, and loving Brian can be—and I love his dimples in it!" —MELISSA

PHOTOGRAPHER: JENNIFER PORTER, with CREATIVE IMAGES

Kyra (5, China)

daughter of Kristin and Keith

"Kyra has a ton of energy—in all the photos taken before this she was running, spinning around. But if something interests her, she is laser-focused—and this patch of dandelions caught her attention. We adopted Kyra at age four, and people often think that, when you adopt an older child, you miss out on all kinds of ‘firsts.’ We’ve found there are so many things for children to learn and discover; seeing her child-like wonder at blowing a dandelion for the first time was just one amazing example." —KRISTIN

PHOTOGRAPHER: MOLLY SHIELDS

Kinsey (3, U.S. foster)

daughter of Lara and Jerry

"Kinsey had only been home about two months, and was still figuring out who all these new people were. This baby doll was one of the first toys we got her, and it quickly became her favorite comfort item. You can see how she’s clutching it in this picture! In some of the later images from this photo shoot she has a bigger smile, but we felt this expression was more true to her personality." —LARA

PHOTOGRAPHER: AMY MELSA PHOTOGRAPHY

Diego (2, U.S.)

son of Alison and Robert

"This photo captures the essence of Diego’s sweet personality. Our shy little guy learned to wink at 11 months old, and was comfortable winking at someone at the grocery store before he was comfortable saying hello. The ladies particularly loved it! As a toddler, he was bothered by loud noises and other things, but he has always been calmed by water. It is his security blanket. He’s five now, and still a character." —ALISON

PHOTOGRAPHER: UNKNOWN

Maxwell (7, Vietnam) with Linhly (7, Vietnam)

son of Lauren and Matt / daughter of Michelle and Jeff

"This photo was taken in beautiful Hoi An, during a homeland visit to Vietnam. We traveled with Linhly’s family to adopt, so we decided to travel back together. Max and Linhly were crib mates in their orphanage for two years, and our families have stayed so close they are almost like siblings. It’s amazing—I submitted two photos to this contest, and Linhly’s mother submitted the exact same two.'" —LAUREN

PHOTOGRAPHER: ETIENNE BOSSOT PHOTOGRAPHY

Bailey (2, Democratic Republic of the Congo)

daughter of Jenny and Travis

"Last fall, we went to a spot known for its leaves. There were none left on the trees, but we found a bunch on the ground. Bailey thought it was fun to throw them up in the air, but then discovered that it was even more fun to fall into them on purpose. This captures her personality so well—she is just joyful and throws herself into enjoying whatever she’s doing." —JENNY

PHOTOGRAPHER: JENNY

Zaleeya (7, India)

daughter of Zeena and Azeem

"Zaleeya had just gotten out of the pool when this picture was taken. She was enjoying a fun summer playdate with one of her oldest friends, with whom she has a special bond. Our favorite things about this picture are that it highlights Zaleeya’s beautiful eyes, the wisdom and expression behind them, and her curly hair—a trait that she and I share. My husband and I have always been awestruck that we ended up with a curly haired girl!" —ZEENA